They were nervous, the tension in the air crackling between them, as if they were lightning bolts in a stormy sky instead of two women.Both found it hard to believe that they had made it this far, yet neither was willing to vocalize their reservations.Now was not the time for hesitation.There was no need to over think, overanalyze.They needed to trust that their bodies would know what to do.Certainly they would recognize when to be soft and gentle, and when to be firm and rough, going in for the kill, so to speak, even if the stakes had never been higher.

The women took the time removing their clothes.Outer layers were peeled away, leaving only the tiniest pieces of fabric covering the most intimate of areas.Trembling hands wrung together, unaccustomed to this feeling of nervousness.They’ve both done this before, right?Granted this was their first time together, but still, the mechanics would be the same.They were partners now.They just needed to be open and communicative and everything else would come in time.If not, practice makes perfect, and these two were certainly dedicated to making their coupling work.

They stood facing each other, seeing nothing but trust and confidence reflected back in a steady gaze.Both women were starting to sweat, a fine sheen covering exposed skin.This was it.They had survived each other, through more than a year of fighting, frustration, and fear, and no one was more surprised than they were to be together in this place and this time. Green eyes met brown, hands locked together in a vice like grip, nothing could stop these two women tonight….

“And now, representing the United States of America in their Olympic Beach Volleyball debut, give it up for Natalia Rivera and Olivia Spencer!”